macOS Monterey 12.6.1 Update (21G217) What’s New?

macOS Monterey 12.6.1 is now Available.

UPDATED: 10/25/22

Today Apple released the 12.6.1 update, the tenth overall for macOS Monterey. The previous update 12.6, was released only two weeks ago. Let’s jump in and find out what’s new in this update.

IMPORTANT Enterprise & Education Note:

The 12.6.1 Update is required if you need to block macOS Ventura via minor MDM 90 Day deferral. More on that later.

Apple’s description of the 12.6.1 update:

“This update is recommended for all users and improves the security of macOS.“

That means that this update is focused around security and not bug fixes or new features.

Quick Summary

Enhancements – None
Bug fixes – None
Enterprise fixes – waiting
Security Updates – Waiting
Full installer and M1 IPSW – Waiting
Safari – Safari 16.1 is now available as a separate download & requires Monterey 12.5.
Xcode –
Xcode Command Line tools –
Apple Studio Display Update – None
OpenCore Legacy Patcher – not tested yet.

Full Apple OS Release list

macOS 💻 ✅

Ventura 13.0 (22A380)
Monterey – 12.6.1 (21G217)
Big Sur – 11.7.1 (20G918)
Catalina – Still Dead
Xcode = 14.1
Command Line Tools for Xcode = 14.0
Apple Configurator – Current version = 2.15.1
Apple Studio Display Firmware Update – Current Version = 15.5

1. Apple Links
2. Undocumented macOS Monterey Update changes & fixes
3. Monterey Release History
4. macOS Monterey Full Installer.app
5. Apple Silicon IPSW Restore file Update
6. macOS Monterey Update sizes for Intel and M1
7. Apple Silicon M1 Firmware Update
8. Intel T2 BridgeOS Update
9. Safari Update
10. What’s new for enterprise in macOS Monterey
11. Security Content of macOS Monterey
12. macOS Monterey Release Notes / Patch Notes / Changes

Click “Continue Reading” for the rest of the article.

1. Apple Links

AppleSeed Notes Link = appleseed.apple.com/

Developer Public Link = developer.apple.com/documentation/macos-release-notes

macOS Deployment References Changes – https://support.apple.com/guide/deployment-reference-macos/document-revision-history-apd04dff7069/web

2. Undocumented macOS Monterey changes & fixes

1. None

3. Monterey Release History

23. Monterey 12.6.1 (21G211) – 10/11/22 – My Release notes
22. Monterey 12.6 (21G115) – 9/12/22 – My Release notes
21. Monterey 12.5.1 (21G83) – 8/17/22 – My Release Notes
20. Monterey 12.5 (21G72) – 7/20/22 – My Release Notes
19. Monterey 12.4 (21F79) – 5/16/22 – My Release Notes
18. Monterey 12.3.1 (21E258) – 3/31/22 – My Release Notes
17. Monterey 12.3 (21E230) – 3/14/22 – My Release Notes
16. Monterey 12.2.1 (21D62) – 2/10/22 – My Release Notes
15. Monterey 12.2 (21D49) -1/24/22 – My Release Notes
14. Monterey 12.1 (21C52) – 12/13/21 – My Release Notes
13. Monterey 12.0.1 Final (21A559) – 10/25/21 – My Release Notes
12. Monterey 12.0.1 RC2 (21A559) – 10/21/21 – My Release Notes
11. Monterey 12.0.1 RC (21A558) – 10/18/21 – My Release Notes
10. Monterey Beta 10 (21A5552a) – 10/13/21 – My Release Notes
9. Monterey Beta 9 (21A5543b) – 10/06/21 – My Release Notes
8. Monterey Beta 8 (21A5534d) – 9/28/21 – My Release Notes
7. Monterey Beta 7 (21A5522h) – 9/21/21 – My Release Notes
6. Monterey Beta 6 (21A5506j) – 8/30/21 – My Release Notes
5. Monterey Beta 5 (21A5304g) – 8/09/21 – My Release Notes
4. Monterey Beta 4 (21A5294g) – 7/27/21 – My Release Notes
3. Monterey Beta 3 (21A5284e) – 7/14/21 – My Release Notes
2. Monterey Beta 2 (21A5268h) – 6/28/21 – My Release Notes
1. Monterey Beta 1 (21A5248p) – 6/07/21 – No Release Notes

4. macOS Monterey Full Installer.app

Apple has released the full installer for macOS Monterey. I list all the of the macOS Monterey Full installers in the link below.

https://mrmacintosh.com/macos-12-monterey-full-installer-database-download-directly-from-apple/

InstallAssistant.pkg = Full download. Installing this package will add the full “Install macOS Monterey.app” to your applications folder.

5. Apple Silicon IPSW Restore file Update

Apple has released the full IPSW restore file of macOS Monterey for Apple Silicon M1 Macs. I keep track of all of them in my Apple Silicon Firmware Database

Get them here –> https://mrmacintosh.com/apple-silicon-m1-full-macos-restore-ipsw-firmware-files-database/

6. macOS Monterey Update sizes for Intel and M1

Monterey Delta Update

The delta update will automatically change in size for exactly what your macOS version needs.

11. Delta from macOS Monterey 12.6 (21G115) = 1.4GB
10. Delta from macOS Monterey 12.5.1 (21G72) = 1.5GB
9. Delta from macOS Monterey 12.5 (21G72) = 1.6GB
8. Delta from macOS Monterey 12.4 (21F79) = 2.2GB (3.05GB Actual)
7. Delta from macOS Monterey 12.3.1 (21E258) = 2.3GB
6. Delta from macOS Monterey 12.3 (21E230) = 2.3 GB
5. Delta from macOS Monterey 12.2.1 (21D62) = 4.4GB
4. Delta from macOS Monterey 12.2 (21D48) = 4.4GB
3. Delta from macOS Monterey 12.1 (21C52) = 4.4GB
2. Delta from macOS Monterey 12.0.1 (21A559) = 4.5GB
1. Full update size = 11.3 GB

Thank you DhinakG

Monterey Combo Update

The “Combo Update” has been replaced by an automatic sized update. This means if you are updating from an version of monterey, you will get an update that includes only the files that you need.

7. Apple Silicon M1 Firmware Update

This update has a new firmware update. The version number is reported in System Information under “System Firmware Version“

Apple Silicon M1 Firmware – Updated!

11. macOS Monterey 12.6.1 = 8419.41.10
10. macOS Monterey 12.6 = 7459.141.1
9. macOS Monterey 12.5.1 = 7459.141.1
8. macOS Monterey 12.5 = 7459.141.1
7. macOS Monterey 12.4 = 7459.121.3
6. macOS Monterey 12.3.1 = 7459.101.3
5. macOS Monterey 12.3 = 7459.101.2
4. macOS Monterey 12.2.1 = 7429.81.3
3. macOS Monterey 12.2 = 7429.81.3
2. macOS Monterey 12.1 = 7429.61.2
1. macOS Monterey 12.0.1 = 7429.41.5

8. Intel T2 BridgeOS Update

The Version of BridgeOS for your T2 Security Chip (2018-2020 Intel Macs) was updated.

BridgeOS version – Updated

11. macOS Monterey 12.6.1 = 20.16.411
10. macOS Monterey 12.6 = 19.16.16067
9. macOS Monterey 12.5.1 = 19.16.16066
8. macOS Monterey 12.5 = 19.16.16063
7. macOS Monterey 12.4 = 19.16.15071
6. macOS Monterey 12.3.1 = 19.16.14243
5. macOS Monterey 12.3 = 19.16.14242.5.1
4. macOS Monterey 12.2.1 = 19.16.10744.0.0 (Same as 12.2)
3. macOS Monterey 12.2 = 19.16.10744.0.0
2. macOS Monterey 12.1 = 19.16.10647.0.0
1. macOS Monterey 12.0.1 = 19.16.10548.0.0

9. Safari Update

The new version of Safar 15 is included in the macOS Monterey update.

As of Monterey 12.6, Safari is now a separate download in Software Update.

Safari = Updated

11. macOS Monterey 12.6.1 = 16.1
10. macOS Monterey 12.6 = 16.0 (17614.1.25.9.10)
9. macOS Monterey 12.5.1 = 15.6.1 (17613.3.9.1.16)
8. macOS Monterey 12.5 = 15.6 (17613.3.9.1.5)
7. macOS Monterey 12.4 = 15.5 (17613.2.7.1.8)
6. macOS Monterey 12.3.1 = 15.4 (17613.1.17.1.13)
5. macOS Monterey 12.3 = 15.4 (17613.1.17.1.6)
4. macOS Monterey 12.2.1 = 15.3 (17612.4.9.1.8)
3. macOS Monterey 12.2 = 15.3 (17612.4.9.1.5)
2. macOS Monterey 12.1 = 15.2 (17612.3.6.1.6)
1. macOS Monterey 12.0.1 = 15.1 (17612.2.9.1.20)

10. What’s new for Enterprise in macOS Monterey

Enterprise changes:

Resolves an issue where macOS Ventura could not be deferred using the Major OS delay MDM key.
Resolves an issue where the Wi-Fi menu is not available at the activation screen after Erase All Contents and Settings.
Resolves an issue where a software update is initiated but does not download.
Resolves an issue where joining a WPA2/3 Personal network may return a “keychain cannot be found” error.

https://support.apple.com/HT212586

11. Security Content of macOS Monterey

macOS Monterey Security Document

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201222

12. macOS Monterey 12.6.1 Release Notes

Apple’s macOS Monterey 12.6.1 Release Notes >

https://developer.apple.com/documentation/macos-release-notes

Overview

macOS Monterey 12.6.1 — Restart Required

This update provides important security updates and is recommended for all users.

For information on the security content of Apple software updates, please visit this website: https://support.apple.com/kb/HT201222

Liked it? Take a second to support Mr. Macintosh on Patreon!